(Arthur POV)
The video game venture was progressing nicely. H.E.S. sales had reached 348 thousand units, generating 15 million dollars in revenue with 4 million in profit. Game sales added another 3 million in revenue, bringing in 1.8 million profit.
Total profits since introducing video games to this world: 6.8 million dollars. Not impressive compared to my film earnings, perhaps, but this was just the beginning. Give it months, maybe a year, and we'd be looking at billions in annual revenue.
I had the media to thank for this success, though they didn't realize it. Their relentless criticism of the H.E.S. spread awareness better than my own TV network could, despite our dominance in the Anatolia region.
Pure advertising couldn't achieve what opposition did. People unconsciously resist obvious marketing, but when media outlets attack a product? That sparks curiosity. The critics thought they were warning people away, not realizing they were making the H.E.S. impossible to ignore. Human nature - or demon nature - always wants to see what others condemn.
Of course, we still needed extensive promotion throughout the kingdom. Now that we'd laid the foundation for video games, it was time to hook people properly.
The media kept hammering away at the H.E.S., completely unaware of our actual sales figures. I toyed with the idea of releasing those numbers. Would seeing the real data silence their criticism?
A smile tugged at my lips. Maybe not yet. Their skepticism was still too valuable.
Video games would certainly gain more fans after the game team completed "Football 1273" - a game featuring all the teams under the Anatolia Football Association.
Though football hadn't yet become a global sensation, my promotion efforts had made it quite popular across specific regions. Starting from Horn Kingdom, the sport had spread through Morningstar, Thorne, Japon, and Choson, even reaching parts of Evros. The dedicated fanbase we'd built would easily support video game sales.
I pushed thoughts of video games aside, focusing instead on my DP earnings display - 4,789 divine points. The tasks I'd assigned followers were proving effective, but we remained far short of the 8,000 divine points needed for the Sanctuary Sphere.
"If things come to worse, I might have to intervene personally," I thought, weighing my options. Without the Sphere's protection when the "champion" and "sacred knights" arrived, I'd need to reveal powers I'd gained from Dragon Ball and Naruto.
At least my clones would prove useful in such a situation.
A soft chime from my office computer interrupted my planning. The message notification showed Demon Dynamics - another multi-billion dollar company requesting negotiations for computer and barcode rights.
"Hmph. They're quite persistent," I muttered, leaning back in my chair. Especially after seeing other corporate giants like Dark Electronics, specialists in train, car, and airship components, making similar attempts.
These companies never learned. Each rejection only seemed to fuel more offers. Yet their persistence made sense - computers threatened their carefully built monopolies.
Once computer technology reached critical mass, their control over various industries would crumble. Their desperate attempts to buy the rights revealed their fear of this inevitable future.
***
(3rd Person POV)
With "Music Legends Quest" capitalizing on James and Frederick's fame, the music stars threw their full support behind the game's promotion. Their involvement opened new marketing possibilities that Arthur quickly seized upon.
He launched the "Hellfire Games Tournament" event, broadcasting the announcement across Hellfire Network. The commercial's dramatic voice filled taverns and homes across the kingdom:
"Think you have what it takes to be a gaming legend? Prove your skills in Music Legends Quest and win big! Six thousand dollars for the top score, four thousand for second place, and one thousand for third! But that's not all - winners get an exclusive meeting with James and Frederick themselves! Your chance at fortune and fame begins now at any Hellscape location!"
At the Crimson Horn Tavern, a demon nearly choked on his beer. "Six thousand dollars for getting the highest score on... a video game?" The unfamiliar term rolled awkwardly off his tongue.
"And meeting James and Frederick!" his companion's eyes lit up. "Been following them since their first album hit the streets!"
"What even is this Music Legends Quest?" a nearby demon called out, scratching his horns in confusion.
"Never heard of it myself," another chimed in from his corner table.
A demon wearing a Hellfire uniform turned toward them. "It's that new game for the H.E.S. - you know, that entertainment system Hellfire released last week."
Blank stares met his explanation. "The what system?"
The tavern erupted into explanations, with those who'd seen or tried the H.E.S. enlightening the uninitiated. Similar scenes played out across Horn City as Hellfire Network announced high score competitions for their other games - Tetris, Space Invader, and Ping Pong. The prize money drew attention, slowly driving up H.E.S. sales.
***
While video games carved their niche in Horn Kingdom, Arthur made a calculated move with "One Flew Over a Cuckoo's Nest." Rather than premiering the trailer locally, he released it in Kanata Kingdom.
The timing wasn't random - the prestigious Autumn Film Festival approached, drawing traditionally-crafted, non-VFX films from across the realms.
The Autumn Film Festival had built its reputation on celebrating psychological dramas and character studies - films that explored the depths of mortal consciousness without relying on magical effects or VFX spectacle. For Arthur's latest work, crafted without his usual visual effects arsenal, the festival offered perfect alignment.
Though Arthur hardly needed the exposure - his influence already spanned multiple kingdoms - the festival served another purpose. It could launch John's acting career into prestigious territory. The northern Empirica region's largest celebration of dramatic arts had launched countless careers, particularly in its psychological drama category.
The festival's dedication to low-budget, performance-driven films made it the perfect stage for John's breakthrough.
The trailer's release across Kanata Kingdom sparked immediate interest. In a realm saturated with magical spectacles, the raw, grounded portrayal of mental illness and institutional power struck a chord. The modern setting, deliberately stripped of magical elements, offered something different - a mirror held up to society's darker corners.
By July 29, 1274, as the Autumn Film Festival began, Quebec City's streets teemed with activity. Montreal welcomed fifty thousand visitors - critics, filmmakers, and enthusiasts drawn to celebrate cinema in its purest form.
Arthur, John, Vivienne, and the cast arrived in a city that pulsed with sophistication. Art deco buildings stretched toward the sky, their elegant lines softened by flourishing gardens.
Horse-drawn carriages shared cobblestone streets with sleek automobiles, while airships drifted lazily overhead.
Jazz music spilled from several clubs, mixing with the chatter of crowds dressed in the latest fashions.
This marked Arthur's first visit to Kanata, and the kingdom's prosperity impressed him. Its cities rivaled the wealthy metropolises of U.S.E., suggesting a different balance of power than he remembered from his previous life.
The U.S.E. hadn't yet achieved its destiny as a global superpower. Without World War II reshaping the global order, other nations maintained their influence.
The dwarven realms, particularly the Craft Kingdom, dominated technological advancement. Their underground cities and mountain strongholds housed marvels of engineering and artistry that human kingdoms could only dream of matching.
Looking at the city's grand architecture and bustling commerce, Arthur couldn't help but wonder how this world's future would differ from the one he remembered.